Loss of control on my 2-8-8-2

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I have a Paragon II 2-8-8-2

I test ran it when I first got it and it was OK

I can’t remember whether in or DCC as I don’t know if I had the NCE Power Cab then or not

Any way it was in my display case and I took it out to run

In DC the start up noises and headlight are there but no motion

This is the only time I have had any problems

I put my other DCC engines on the track and every thing is still cool

In DCC I programmed the Long Address and the start up noises are there and the whistle and bell work but not the headlight and it won’t move

The manual only says this may happen if the consist didn’t clear but I never ran in consist

In any case I used the consist control to try and clear and naturally there was no consisted listed

Any ideas

2

Set you controller on address 3 and see if it will move. If so, you didn’t program the long address correctly.

Program CV 29 with a value of 34 to tell the decoder to use the long address.

When you tried to set a new address, if you didn’t go through the “Configuration” steps the decoder still thinks it is set on address 3.

You may have put the decoder into “shutdown” mode if you pressed the 9 button. Press the 6 button twice to wake it up.

If none of these steps solve the problem, dig out the instruction manual and reset the decoder to factory default values.

3

OK I am a little confused here. Are you running it on DC or DCC? If it will not move on DC is DC disabled in CV29? On DCC are you calling up the correct address? Did you try address 3? Is the plug going to the loco from the tender in securely? A quick test of the plug is to tip the tender to one side and if the sound stops then the plug is not in very good.

Pete

4

When I got my Y6b a few years back, I found it very vexing that it would often not respond to my throttle commands. Finally, in desperation (okay, in anger…), I took it off the rails and rammed that plug hard and deep into its socket. She purred like a kitten and took off right smartly when I set her on the rails.

I can almost guarantee that you have not seated the plug sufficiently. Use a very fine needle-nosed pliers, with a tine on each side of the wire bundle, placed firmly on the back surface of the plug, and with a firm grip on the boiler and cab, push hard. The back of the plug should actually be deeper than the open rim of the receptacle, but not by much…maybe most of a millimeter.

Crandell

5

I tried reseating and it didn’t go in as far as you said

But it now works

But it starts out raggedly the once the speed is up it is ok

Did it at halftime of the game

6

Another F6-F9 victim.

Remember that reading the manual is a must when dealing with any sound equipped loco. Random pressing of function keys results in various forms of operation, including disconnect (which is what the OP described to a tee).

David B

7

if its been in the case for a while, clean the wheels and give it a lube job. then give it a good break in run at half speed. it should run much better after the pickups clean up after use

8

Thanks for all the replies

Pushing on the connector with a small screw driver must have seated it enough and after running 4 or 5 times around the loop and now all is cool